Photo by: (Ben Solomon/Rutgers Athletics)
Mike Tverdov: Family Tradition
Aug 27 | Football
Redshirt sophomore defensive lineman Mike Tverdov grew up watching his older brother, Pete, star for the Rutgers football team. A four-year standout for the Scarlet Knights from 2005-08, Pete finished his collegiate career with 84 tackles, 23 tackles-for-loss and five sacks, including four during his senior season.
After a breakout redshirt season last fall, Mike is certainly not living in his brother's shadow. Tverdov totaled 31 tackles, 5.5 tackles-for-loss and tied for the team lead with four sacks in 2018, making the Tverdov name something for fans to talk about once again inside SHI Stadium.
Now in his third year in the program, Tverdov has embraced a leadership role, trying to make himself better, along with his team.
"You have to make it about other guys and not so much yourself," Tverdov said. "I'm improving day by day and trying to coach myself and my teammates and help bring them along with me. I try to be really passionate and I try to be really genuine with what I say and what I do. I try to be honest and upfront with the guys."
Not only has Tverdov grown as a leader, the standout defender has also added physical strength over the past year. He understands more plays, and is evens getting used to the flow of the college game.
"Every practice, every game I get under my belt just propels me to being a better player," Tverdov said. "This is the best shape of my life that I'm in right now and I'm sure a lot of other guys can relate as well."
Pete Tverdov has been a mentor to Mike, but that has not stopped him from learning from other players along the way, including former Scarlet Knight Kevin Wilkins, who graduated this past year and is now in the Philadelphia Eagles organization.
"Kevin kind of brought me up from when I was really young as a freshman," Tverdov said. "No player is a finished product. Willington Previlon is also a guy I've really learned from as far as the X's and O's go, taking everything down and not being too good to learn a new thing."
Despite his documented success on the field, Tverdov still gets fairly anxious on game days. The morning before a game, his typical routine includes visualizing success on the field, reviewing each play, and trying to stay as calm as possible.
And then, when he gets onto the turf, he tries to have fun. Tverdov puts up impressive numbers, but the most impressive quality he brings to the team is his tenacity.
"I play with a lot of passion on the field and a fire in my heart, every play I try to get to the ball and make a play," Tverdov said. "I know that if I'm healthy and I'm playing 120 mph, I'm going to make a lot of good plays this year, really surprise a lot of people and open up some doors for myself.
"It's kind of up to me to hold the torch and pass it on to the next group of guys coming through and know that I can't fail the guys that came before me. I just try to do my best and always play with a chip on my shoulder."
Tverdov still remembers coming to his brother's games when he was eight-years-old. He knew from the moment he saw his first game at Rutgers that this is where he wanted to be. For Tverdov, playing here is a dream come true.
"It's kind of weird not being in the stands with my family, so when I'm walking out of the tunnel, I see them where I used to be," Tverdov said. "I've looked forward to this my whole life. I definitely always wear that R with a lot of pride."
After a breakout redshirt season last fall, Mike is certainly not living in his brother's shadow. Tverdov totaled 31 tackles, 5.5 tackles-for-loss and tied for the team lead with four sacks in 2018, making the Tverdov name something for fans to talk about once again inside SHI Stadium.
Now in his third year in the program, Tverdov has embraced a leadership role, trying to make himself better, along with his team.
"You have to make it about other guys and not so much yourself," Tverdov said. "I'm improving day by day and trying to coach myself and my teammates and help bring them along with me. I try to be really passionate and I try to be really genuine with what I say and what I do. I try to be honest and upfront with the guys."
Not only has Tverdov grown as a leader, the standout defender has also added physical strength over the past year. He understands more plays, and is evens getting used to the flow of the college game.
"Every practice, every game I get under my belt just propels me to being a better player," Tverdov said. "This is the best shape of my life that I'm in right now and I'm sure a lot of other guys can relate as well."
Pete Tverdov has been a mentor to Mike, but that has not stopped him from learning from other players along the way, including former Scarlet Knight Kevin Wilkins, who graduated this past year and is now in the Philadelphia Eagles organization.
"Kevin kind of brought me up from when I was really young as a freshman," Tverdov said. "No player is a finished product. Willington Previlon is also a guy I've really learned from as far as the X's and O's go, taking everything down and not being too good to learn a new thing."
Despite his documented success on the field, Tverdov still gets fairly anxious on game days. The morning before a game, his typical routine includes visualizing success on the field, reviewing each play, and trying to stay as calm as possible.
And then, when he gets onto the turf, he tries to have fun. Tverdov puts up impressive numbers, but the most impressive quality he brings to the team is his tenacity.
"I play with a lot of passion on the field and a fire in my heart, every play I try to get to the ball and make a play," Tverdov said. "I know that if I'm healthy and I'm playing 120 mph, I'm going to make a lot of good plays this year, really surprise a lot of people and open up some doors for myself.
"It's kind of up to me to hold the torch and pass it on to the next group of guys coming through and know that I can't fail the guys that came before me. I just try to do my best and always play with a chip on my shoulder."
Tverdov still remembers coming to his brother's games when he was eight-years-old. He knew from the moment he saw his first game at Rutgers that this is where he wanted to be. For Tverdov, playing here is a dream come true.
"It's kind of weird not being in the stands with my family, so when I'm walking out of the tunnel, I see them where I used to be," Tverdov said. "I've looked forward to this my whole life. I definitely always wear that R with a lot of pride."
Players Mentioned
Wednesday, May 27
Monday, May 04
Saturday, April 25
Thursday, April 23
